AWSC Meeting
March 8, 2015
St Vincent’s Hospital - Harrison NY
MINUTES
Meeting opened at 12:01 with the Serenity Prayer
Reading of March 8, Courage to Change, read by Marlene, Introduction of those present
WSC Rules of the Conference were announced
Traditions were read
Concepts were read
Reading from March 2013 Forum p. 33—Effective leadership-Concept 3
Chairman Marcia B
Welcome everyone to another day of service.
Your voice is very important to our Area.
Concept 12 Warranty 3 wherein it states all decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible by unanimity. The motion was the Area Policy regarding service by Al-Anon/Alateen members also member of AA. This motion passed at our last AWSC meeting. Since there were many members abstaining on this issue, we will continue the discussion.
We have other important issues on the agenda hopefully we will be able to come to a unified decision through discussion.
If there any other issues you might have, please let me know during the break and I will consider putting them on the agenda.
Thanking you in advance for your participation.
With Gratitude in Service, Marcia
Open Positions:
Archives Coordinator; Newsletter Coordinator; and AAPP (Karen C stepped down)
Re: AAPP Position: Question was raised about allowing an Al-Anon member who is also a member of A. A. to fill the AAPP position since it is non-policy making position.
Discussion: Another possibility is to have Alternate Delegate fill the position; Is it appropriate for Alternate Delegate to do both positions? Job description only states “should be member of Al-Anon… “, does not say could be in both programs, does the word ONLY need to be inserted? Topic to be sent to Steering Committee
Sue P. volunteered to be the AAPP for now. At this time, this is not a permanent position.?
Amias Training - Marcia B
What is the role of the Area in sharing expenses for a local training site. Ellen suggests splitting the cost for rent between the districts and the Area. Discussion: Members asked what is needed for training, what is the cap for rent? Requires large space with seating. Currently no cap as local districts have made arrangements and covered costs. Suggestions to make a motion, not a guideline. Question, whether AIS’s can help with hosting training? Yes, they could as it would be similar to a district sponsoring a training. Member stated that Area is the mother group to support Alateen. Alateen Coordinator stated she would rather go where she is asked (locally) as there is a much better turn-out for training. Suggestion to update the AMIAS guideline was made. Proposal that Area would consider splitting the cost for districts that request assistance. Suggestion was made to refer the matter to the newly formed Area Alateen Thought force.
Secretary Jeanne B
The minutes for AWSC of Jan. 11, 2015 are on the website.
I will need a volunteer to take minutes for the May 17th AWSC meeting.
Treasurer’s Report Grace Marie H. (Not Present)
Michele R. gave a verbal report: As of 2/28/15
Checking Account Balance: $20,549.19
Savings Account Balance: $11,751.89
To date, the 2015 allocations have not been transferred from checking to savings. In addition, $930.00 will need to be transferred from savings to checking account for website hosting.
Delegate’s Report Michele R
The 2015 World Service Conference is almost here.
One of the topics to be addressed is the change in text for Concepts 8 & 11. I am making it available to the AWSC members and asking DRs to forward to their GRs, as comments are due before our next Assembly.
The NERD Meeting (North East Regional Delegates) is next weekend. Marcia (as a Past Delegate) and I will be attending. The 6 Timely Topics to be addressed are: Leadership, Use of the word “Qualifier,” Information getting to groups and members, Does the WSO serve the AFG?, How can Areas encourage more cooperation with AA at the Area, district, and group levels?, Past Delegates staying active with Area service. We will be having some lively discussions while we are there!!
I will be traveling to the Conference by car, so I will gladly accept LOVE gifts at the Assembly to take with me and save groups and districts any mailing costs.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Delegate.
Alternate Delegate’s Report Sue P.
The group inventories have all been cancelled due to weather. There is one at St. Anne’s in Nyack tomorrow and one in Manhattan later in March, and one in April in Inwood.
Steering Committee Report The Steering Committee Meeting, scheduled for 2/15/15 was cancelled due to bad weather.
Topic of Area Audit was brought up. Previously recommended that Steering Committee would do the audit. Discussion and suggestion to hold audit before the April Assembly. The Audit of the 2014 Treasurer’s Books will be done on April 12th, at 10:00 am before the Assembly. Eight members volunteered. Discussion about how to fill the need for volunteers to do the “once a year” audit of books? A suggestion was made that committee members each volunteer once during their term, dividing up AWSC members over three years and assigning an “audit.”
The next Steering Committee meeting will be held on May 3rd at 11:30 at St. Vincent’s in Harrision.
Group Records Marlene L
Voting 22, visitors 0
At the Assembly, I handed out the Group Records for the following districts: #3 & #5 in Suffolk; #10 in Nassau; #15 and #33 in Brooklyn; #17 in Staten Island; #18 in Manhattan; #25 and #26 in Westchester; #28 in Dutchess; #29 in Rockland; #30 in Orange. I still have the following districts: #1/34 in Suffolk; #24 in Westchester; and #27 in Putnam. All these districts were present at the January AWSC meeting. Even though district #16 and #21 weren’t present at the last AWSC meeting, I printed their Group Records for this meeting.
If you are representing your district because your District Rep could not be present today, please sign in at the end of the District Rep list – not on the Visitors’ page. There is space for you to sign in. You are eligible to vote in their place.
For any new GRs or CMAs, I need the following: Name (first and last), Address, Home phone, and/or Cell phone, and email address. I also need to know if they are the new GR or CMA or both and/or contact name for the group. I also need the Group Name, Group #, and District #. If you do not know the Group #, I must have the name and district.
Thank you for remembering to drop your Attendance Card in the box when you leave during the meeting, and picking it up when you come back. If there is a vote taken while you are out, the Chair needs a count of voting members, and I deduct the cards in the box from the total attending. Remember, Visitors can make comments, but they cannot vote. Only Group Reps can vote.
If you have a question about your meeting, I have my computer with me and should be able to give you the answer.
Respectfully submitted, Marlene L
Public Outreach Taaj J
Public outreach for spring looks hopeful with 2 volunteers stepping up to man an
Al-Anon table at the Sober St. Patrick's Day event on Tuesday, March 17th from 4
till 8pm. The event is held at Cathedral High school 350 East 56thStreet in Manhattan.
Also in our area in Suffolk County, we have a new public outreach
coordinator who is bringing info about Al-Anon to high schools in her area at
the School Health Fairs. She has done one already and has four more scheduled.
We, as an area are supporting the effort with both AFA's and pamphlets. Some of
the suggested pamphlets include:
P-7 A Guide for the Family of the Alcoholic
S-25 Did you grow up with a problem drinker
S-20 Has your life been affected by someone else's drinking
There is an entire section of both pamphlets and single page fliers which are directed toward public outreach on the literature order section of the member page of ecomm.al-anon.org which is
terrific to browse through and can be used as outreach projects by each group.
The members site www.al-anon.org/member-site has a simple password and it is any
word from your group name followed by the letters AFG.
As a reminder, the deadline for ordering 2016 AFA's is 5pm Wednesday July 5th for delivery shipping by September 1st.
Service to foundations continues in several districts as does research and placement of billboard advertising. Subway placement is in the research phase as well. Volunteers are always welcome to place both public information posters and PSA's (public service announcements).
Some other projects underway, also in our area are poster contests for public outreach,
also in Suffolk.
Please GR's, suggest to your groups that they can place PSA's by simply phoning any movie theatre, tv station, radio or cable, and, that all that is needed, is to know the stations' format requirements. So much is done electronically that it can be as simple as having WSO provide the upload and I am happy to assist the member or the GR or Public Outreach person to make
that connection.
Also the group may wish to follow up on the theme which is a Lois' birthday tradition of leaving a piece of literature anonymously in honor of Lois Wilson, one of our two founders along with Anne B.
Any other suggestions always welcome.
Regarding NY North Project at the NYS Fair at the end of August, they are waiting for confirmation of a table, and then they may ask us for literature or a dollar contribution. Taaj will inform members of what may happen.
Discovery Task Force Michele R
Update: There are currently 2 proposals from venues: Hilton Westchester and Marriott Tarrytown. We are looking at September 2015. Michele is planning to negotiate with Marriott about bringing snacks in, the way that they do at the SENY convention.
Forum/Literature Jackie A
• We have a new Area literature committee formed of 10 people + me! Yay Area 40! The June 29th reading of Hope for Today speaks about becoming a we, thanks to this fellowship my position has morphed! I plan on having our first online meeting before the April 12th Assembly. The agenda will be focused on planning our workshop.
• Our HP guided us to make a beautiful "Love Gift" for our Delegate, Michele, to take to the Conference! At the April 12th Assembly I will make #100 color copies and bring curling ribbon to form "Scrolls"(on the Area Budget, if it's ok). Please ask the Group Reps to arrive early at 10:45am to help!
• Recently I was asked to speak on Step 10 at a group that was not represented. I brought service with me and it went well, so I thought I'd share. I passed out a Forum Sharing Sheet and pencils for the group to share, and asked them to consider writing something that we could submit to the Forum as a group. I shared, and they all shared a sentence, and we submitted it. The group enjoyed doing it, and I got some recovery by doing something different. Consider giving it a try! (See Forum share)
• DR's let's remind our GR's to spread the word about the Forum. This is a part of the GR role. One of the ways we can "Let it Begin with Me" is possibly by having a Forum raffle at our District Meetings. The GR's can suggest holding one at their group business meetings too. It's such a great recovery tool!
• Yay Brooklyn District 15! They have a writing workshop in their District Event Sat March 7th. (I will be there, and will tell you about it. (I've enclosed the flyer if you would like to attend)
• Keep spreading the word, we need writers for our projects: Intimacy in Alcoholic Relationships (C'mon guys we need more Men here! Also stories from teens, gay, and elderly may bring diverse insights for broadening our recovery.), Parents and Grandparents of Young Problem Drinkers, Our New Daily Reader, Alateen Talk, The Forum, and Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism. These books will be written by us. Please consider writing a share instead of speaking it. Submitting it is easy! It can be mailed, or submitted online through the member’s site. (Every time I pass out the "Navigate the Web as a Member" Tear-off, people take them. This tells me that people are still unsure how to do this. Let's consider, there may be some messenger work to do there.... let’s keep handing out tear-offs)
Thank you so much for this abundant opportunity to serve!
Steering Committee recommendations:
Matter under Consideration: Area De-Listing/Do Not Refer Policy
MOTION:
2015-C03-01
That the AWSC recommends to the Assembly the adoption of the Area De-Listing /Do Not Refer Policy (see attached written policy)
Originator: Steering Committee second: Julieann
Yes 19 no 0 abstain 0 motion passes
There was more discussion on the following motion as there were a number of voters who abstained when it was presented in January. It was explained that this is being brought to the Assembly to be discussed by GR’s at two consecutive Assemblies, as are all motions affecting Area Guidelines:
Matter under consideration: Area policy addressing service by Al-Anon/Alateen members who are also members of A.A.
MOTION:
2015-C03-02
That the AWSC recommends to the Assembly the “Area Policy Addressing Service by Al-Anon/Alateen Members who are also Members of A.A.” and to include the recommended changes (March AWSC/March 8, 2015) when if approved”